Course Syllabus

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Southern Utah University

Spring Semester 2026

Social Psychology (Face-to-Face)

PSY 3370-01

Course:	PSY 3370-01
Credits:	3
Term:	Spring Semester 2026
Department:	PSY
CRN:	12315

Course Description

This course explores the social nature of individual behavior. Focus of the course is on how the individual perceives the social group and interacts in social situations. Topics to be covered include social perception and cognition, interpersonal attraction, aggression, conformity, group processes, and applied aspects of social psychology. (Fall, Spring) [Graded (Standard Letter)] Prerequisite(s): PSY 1010 - Prerequisite Min. Grade: C- Registration Restriction(s): None

Required Texts

I will provide the textbook for free on canvas.

Learning Outcomes

ESSENTIAL LEARNING OUTCOMES (ELO’s):

Critical Thinking: Students demonstrate disciplined processes of actively and skillfully conceptualizing, applying, analyzing, synthesizing, and/or evaluating information gathered from, or generated by, observation, experience, reflection, reasoning, or communication, as a guide to belief and action.

Information Literacy: Students identify, locate, evaluate, attribute, and share information effectively and ethically.

Course Requirements

There are five modes of assessment for this course—exams, homework assignments, discussion boards, research participation, and a final paper.

1. Exams: Throughout the course, you will be required to complete three exams (worth 100 points each) to evaluate your knowledge of the material being covered. Each exam will consist of multiple-choice questions based on the course readings, lectures, and assignments. Every exam for this class will be online at the testing center. These will be closed book/closed notes exams. Makeup exams will only be granted to students who have requested them 2 weeks in advance or contact me within 24 hours of the exam with a documented emergency that clearly prevented them from making it to the exam each day it was available. Makeup exams are not a right and are not guaranteed. It is up to my discretion to approve all makeup exams and I reserve the right to deny a makeup exam request for any reason. Therefore, it is strongly recommended you do not miss any exams. However, if you do miss an exam there will be an optional final at the end of the semester you can take to replace your lowest exam score. See below for more information

2. Homework Assignments: You will have 9 homework assignments throughout the class. You can find these assignments under the assignment tab on canvas. Late assignments will result in a 10% deduction each day for a maximum 50%-point deduction. For example, if you turn something in one day late you will receive 10% off your grade for that assignment. If you turn something in 5 days late or 50 days late you would receive a 50% deduction from your grade on that assignment. All late homework is due by December 5th midnight. Any assignments turned in after this will not be graded. Once an assignment has been graded it cannot be submitted again for a regrade.

3. Discussion boards: There will be 2 discussion boards in this class due the week before each of your first two required exams (there will not be a discussion board associated with exam 3). You will be required to post on a class discussion board describing a psychological concept on your study guide for this unit and how you have seen it demonstrated in your own life, on campus or in the media (news sources, movies, songs, magazines, etc.). You will also be required to post on the class discussion board and reply to at least one classmate. No late discussion boards will be accepted under any circumstances.

4. Research Participation: Given that the topics we will be covering in this class often stem directly from research studies, it is important to see how this information is collected firsthand. To meet this objective, this course requires that you participate in research occurring here in our department by signing up for studies through the online research system called SONA. You will be required to complete A total of six credits. More information on how to register for SONA will be posted to canvas in the next few weeks. All research credit is due by December 5th. No late research credit is accepted under any circumstances.

5. Final Paper: This is a two-part assignment. Your final paper will be choose a topic we discussed in lecture and describe it thoroughly. You will also need to discuss why you think if everyone knew about this topic the world would be a better place. Part 1 of this project will be to tell me what you are doing your project on and get it approved. This will be due November 21st midnight. Part 2 will be to turn in a 3-4 page paper. This paper will be due by December 5th at midnight. You will find more information about this paper on canvas at the end of the semester.

6. Optional Cumulative Final Exam: The final exam for this class will be optional. If you choose to take the final, it will replace your lowest exam score. If you do not do better on the final than your previous three exams, you will not be penalized. This will be a 50-question, multiple choice, cumulative exam. There will be no makeup final exams offered under any circumstances.

Course Outline

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

Exams: Makeup exams will only be granted to students who have requested them 2 weeks in advance or contact me within 24 hours of the exam with a documented emergency that clearly prevented them from making it to the exam each day it was available. Makeup exams are not a right and are not guaranteed
Homework: Late assignments will result in a 10% deduction each day for a maximum 50%-point deduction.
Discussion Boards: No late discussion boards will be accepted under any circumstances.
Final Paper: No late final papers will be accepted
Research Participation: No late research participation will be accepted.

Attendance Policy

This is an in-person course. Classes will not be recorded and there will not be a zoom link for you to access. Although you will not be given class credit for attendance, attendance is required. There will be material covered in class that isn’t in your textbook. Additionally, there is information in your textbook that we will not be going over in class. Therefore, it is strongly recommended that you attend class and keep up with the readings if you want to do well in this class.

Course Fees

There are no additional course fees associated with this class.

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.

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